Nurses say there has been a 37% increase in the level of overcrowding at the region’s main hospital in the past month.
The INMO’s latest trolleywatch analysis shows there were over 880 people left waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick in June.
The latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show there were 883 people left waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick in June.
That’s up from 640 in the same month last year, and represents a 37% increase.
It’s the highest ever figure recorded at the region’s main hospital at this time of year, when typically the level of overcrowding has been less than that of the winter.
Ennis General Hospital experienced one of it’s lowest levels of overcrowding, however, with 32 patients waiting on trolleys there in June, down from 11 at the same time in 2016 and 10 in 2015.
Nationally, there has been a 4% decrease in trolley numbers and while the INMO has welcomed the reduction, it says urgent and effective dialogue is needed to prepare for the coming Winter.
The union says the obvious lack of bed capacity cannot be addressed unless the severe recruitment and retention crisis in nursing is tackled.
